ANC conference delayed

Delegates to the 53rd National Conference of the ruling African National Congress sing and dance in the streets of Bloemfontein.

Bloemfontein -

An hour after the ANC's national conference was supposed to start on Sunday morning, delegates were still queuing to get into the venue at the University of the Free State.

Spirits were high among members dressed in black and white African National Congress T-shirts.

“We have arrived. We are members of Umkhonto. The bazooka is going to shoot,” they sang in isiZulu.

Most of the delegates held up two fingers, signifying a second term as ANC leader for President Jacob Zuma. One woman was rolling her hands, signalling a call for a change in leadership.

Delegates also sang: “The day has arrived which we have been longing for. We know who we are going to elect.”

Zuma had been scheduled to give his political report to the conference at 9.30am. Because of the delay he was expected to speak at 11.30am.

On Sunday night delegates would nominate their preferred candidates for the African National Congress's top six officials. The electoral commission would then reveal who had accepted nomination. Delegates would also get to nominate candidates from the floor, provided that 25 percent of those present supported this. - Sapa